Humans are consumers by nature. Two other facets of human nature are the need to be trendy while experiencing a wealth of convenience. We’ve gone to great lengths to create systems, products and services so that we can get through our daily lives with consolidated or minimal effort. We’ve become a society that is fixated with immediate gratification, so anything that can make tasks even simpler and perceivably more efficient is welcomed with open arms. But there’s a downside to all this wonderful convenience. The gadgetry and technology that we’ve developed to make things go smoother is now clogging up our planet. Where something we bought would last years in terms of usefulness, we’re lucky if something we buy today makes it to the end of the year in terms of relevance. We’re all guilty of this consumerism and if you doubt it, just check your kitchen. Chances are good that your kitchen is a veritable wasteland of toys and trinkets that you purchased, in hopes of somehow making things better.

But when we tire of something or if we’ve found a version 2.0 that’s renders its predecessor obsolete, what do we do with it? Nine out of ten times, we end up throwing it away. Not because it’s broken or damaged or non-functional, but simply because we can’t see a place for it in our lives and it’s probably taking up the space we need for something newer and shinier. We need to place a greater emphasis on quality, as opposed to quantity, because the volume of e-waste that we’re creating is killing the planet. Before we buy anything, we should do a thorough background check, not only to assess the quality of manufacturing, but the actual need we have for it – if any truly exists. Let’s have a look at a couple other ways that we can eliminate our taste for e-waste:

Buy the best and don’t settle for less:

This isn’t a call for you to buy brand name items – it’s just about buying items that will make it for the long haul. For example, if you’re in the market for load cells, don’t skimp on the quality. Consider your cost as an investment – not just to your productivity, but to the environment as well. Visit sites like Transducer Techniques Inc. and make sure you’re buying the most well-constructed load cells that the market has to offer. The same goes for your cell phones, mp3 players, exercise equipment and power tools.

Sell when you can and the Earth will be a fan:

A simple way to eliminate your e-waste is simply by not making any to begin with. Instead of just throwing things away, why not sell or trade your older models of gadgets in for cash or upgrades? You can find many sites like Craigslist and eBay online that allow you to sell your items at good prices. What’s one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Sometimes, you can even turn a profit, if you find a buyer who finds your items more valuable than you do!

Take these tips to heart and consider them a great start to reduce the amount of e-waste you produce. The Earth will thank you now and generations to come will thank you later.